2016-06-07 - P&E Agenda - Item 3, Attachment 1 - Noosa Parklands Draft Management Plan

4 Key management considerations
4.1       Pest plants and animals
Pest plants and animals can be a threat to the conservation values of native ecosystem, as
they can out-compete native species. Conversely, some non-native plants can actually
perform a positive environmental role by minimising erosion and providing refuge areas for
native wildlife. This role should be acknowledged and managed when replacing pest plants
with natives, for example through staged removal and revegetation along waterways.

Previous land uses (e.g. timber harvesting; Section 3.4) have disturbed parts of the park,
encouraging pest plant growth. Impacts from surrounding residential properties, including
garden waste dumping, clearing of native vegetation and exotic garden escapees, have also
impacted on the park’s native vegetation communities.

Within the park, 124 pest plants and four pest animals have been recorded (Appendix 6 and
7). The Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002 (LP Act) identifies
pest plants and animal species and sets criteria for their management. A number of pests
described as Class 2 and Class 3 under the LP Act occur within the park (Table 4).
According to the LP Act, landowners (i.e. Noosa Council) must take reasonable steps to
control Class 2 pests (and Class 3 pests when in or adjacent to environmentally significant
area).

Council currently manages pest plants and animals within the park in line with the Noosa
Local Government Area Pest Management Plan 2015-2019 (Noosa Council 2015a;
Appendix 2). Noosa Council (2015a) also identifies priority pest species and their operational
objectives (Table 4). The intent of the Pest Management Plan is to focus on priority species
where it is likely the pests can be practically contained or eradicated. The Bush
Regeneration Plan for Heritage Park Bushland Reserve (Ecological Natural Area
Management 2007) and Heritage Park Network Bushland Operational Assessment (BOA;
Noosa Council 2010) outlines management zones, priorities and methods for regeneration
works within this section of the park. This bush regeneration plan will need to be updated to
reflect the actions in this plan and to review current and future priorities.

To protect fauna populations within the park, domestic animals are prohibited within the park
except for dogs on-leash (and off-leash in the one designated area; Figure 4). Any incidents
of unauthorised domestic animals present within the park are handled under Council’s
relevant local laws (e.g. Noosa Shire Council Local Law Number 2 Animal Management).

Table 4 Priority pest species that have been recorded within the park (Noosa 2015a)

 Scientific name               Common name                 Classification
 Asparagus aethiopicus         asparagus fern              Class 3, Weeds of National Significance (WONS)
 Baccharis halimifolia         groundsel                   Class 2
 Cinnamomum camphora           camphor laurel              Class 3
 Felis catus                   feral cat                   Class 2



Final draft Noosa Parklands Park Management Plan                                                  page | 20